Max Clifford charged with historic sex offence, CPS announces

Ex-showbiz publicist Max Clifford has been charged with indecent assault, prosecutors announced today.

The 71-year-old is accused of committing the offence in 1981 and is set to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on July 21.

Baljit Ubhey, Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS London, said: "We have carefully considered the evidence gathered as part of Operation Yewtree in relation to Max Clifford, who was arrested at Littlehey Prison on March 12.

"Having completed our review, we have concluded that there is sufficient evidence and it is in the public interest for Mr Clifford to be charged with one offence of indecent assault."

Scotland Yard said Clifford had been charged with one count of indecent assault on a woman aged over 16.

Clifford represented some of the biggest names in showbusiness - including pop mogul Simon Cowell, the late reality TV star Jade Goody and boxer Muhammad Ali - in a career that spanned more than 40 years.